In their search for a Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) candidate, many people go shopping at a Thoroughbred auction. Some seek horses with the very best pedigrees and conformation while others are limited by what they can afford to pay.
The good news is that not all horses that turn out to be Run for the Roses contenders sell for extremely high prices. The most expensive sale horse in this year’s group is Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Stay Thirsty , who was a $500,000 2-year-old after commanding $160,000 as a yearling. In comparison, CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and Generous Stakes (gr. III) winner Comma to the Top was a bargain. The Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) runner-up brought only $5,000 as a weanling and $22,000 as a 2-year-old.
The Derby is scheduled for May 7 at Churchill Downs. Following is a list of horses expected to start and their sale histories:
Animal Kingdom – Purchased by Team Valor International for $100,000 from Denali Stud, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Archarcharch – Purchased by Robert Yagos for $60,000 from Paramount Sales, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Brilliant Speed – Never offered at public auction.
Comma to the Top – Purchased by Clyde Rice for $5,000 from Beth Bayer, agent, at the 2008 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. October mixed sale. Purchased by Peter Miller for $22,000 from Indian Prairie Ranch, agent, at the 2010 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Decisive Moment – Bought back for $70,000 when offered by Derby Dreams, agent, at the 2010 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Derby Kitten – Never offered at public auction.
Dialed In – Purchased for $475,000 by Whitehorse Stable from Lane’s End, agent, at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August select yearling sale
Master of Hounds – Never offered at public auction.
Midnight Interlude – Never offered at public auction.
Mucho Macho Man – Never offered at public auction.
Nehro – Purchased by Zayat Stables for $170,000 from Mt. Brilliant Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Pants On Fire – Never offered at public auction.
Santiva – Scratched by Blandford Stud, agent, from the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Shackleford – Bought back for $275,000 when offered by Belvedere Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Soldat – Purchased by Steve Shahinian, agent for Harvey Clarke, for $180,000 from Elm Tree Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. Scratched by Mountain View Racing Stables, agent, from the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Stay Thirsty – Purchased by Whitehorse Stables for $160,000 from Glennwood Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. Purchased by Todd Pletcher, agent, for $500,000 from Scanlon Training Center, agent, at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Sway Away – Purchased by Classic Oaks Farm for $170,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Scratched by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, from the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale. Purchased by Sierra Sunset for $75,000 from Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent, at the 2010 Barretts March select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Twice the Appeal – Scratched by Four Star Sales, agent, from the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Bought back for $4,000 when offered by Four Star Sales, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. Purchased by Sierra Sunset for $35,000 from Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, at the 2010 Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Twinspired – Purchased by Eisaman Equine for $55,000 from Good Win Farm, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. Purchased by Mike Maker for $140,000 from Eisaman Equine, agent, at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Uncle Mo – Purchased for $160,000 by Moon Bloodstock from Denali Stud, agent, at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Purchased for $220,000 by Repole Stables from Four Star Sales, agent, at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Watch Me Go – Never offered at public auction.